The present study described a rare case of malignant conversion of a solitary papilloma in the trachea, in addition to reviewing the current literature. A 54-year-old male presented with a cough, sputum and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography revealed a mediastinal soft-tissue mass in the trachea. A tumor biopsy, performed using a flexible bronchofiberscope, identified a squamous cell papilloma with moderate to severe atypical hyperplasia, as well as the formation of squamous cell carcinoma. Polymerase chain reaction analysis did not detect presence of human papilloma virus in the tumor. The patient was subsequently treated with radiotherapy and no evidence of recurrence was observed during a two-year follow-up period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the malignant conversion of a solitary papilloma in the trachea, which was subsequently treated with radiotherapy.
Keywords: papilloma; radiotherapy; squamous cell carcinoma; trachea.